“I’m back. How’s it going? Well, you take a break and let me finish up here. Oh, Liv, there is so much fun stuff to do and see. I’m glad we’re here. After you get a bite to eat, make sure you visit all the shops. No, don’t worry. I’ll get the rest of them. We only have until about 8:00, because they need to clear the beach for the fireworks. Now, get on with you.”
“Kelly, take her to the Salty Snack Shack . . . don’t you just love that name . . . and get her a gluten-free pretzel. They do, too. Just tell George what you want. Sure, with butter dip. You guys have fun, and don’t worry about a thing. Oh, by the way, Liv, don’t forget the special spinach pizza with the cauliflower crust that Harold made for us. I did! TWO whole pieces! It’s a good thing I’ve been running around so much tonight, or I’d have to buy new clothes a size larger. Get real. That was a joke, Liv. Now, let me get to work cleaning up this royal mess before someone comes to have their portrait done. Tch, tch, tch. I don’t know how that girl works in such a state of confusion . . . Give me just a minute to tidy up here, girls, and I’ll be with you. Isn’t that the craziest music at the diner? I love it! Makes the sketching go faster!”
“Just . . . one . . . more . . . stroke here, and we’re done! The stripes are fabulous, Natalya! They added a lot of character to the sketch. Sure, you can watch. Just swap positions with Nanea. Hmm, mind if I leave your sunglasses off, Nanea? They’re going to give a kind of alien quality to the sketch, if I stick them on your head like that. No, they’re positively precious on you, but we’ll lose something in transferring them to a quick black-and-white sketch. The flower and necklace are just what we need, though. Whaddya think, Natalya? Did I capture the real Nanea? Great! Oh, I don’t mind, if Eliot doesn’t mind. Eliot, do you mind if the girls stay to watch for a while? I didn’t think you would. I need to sharpen my pencil . . . no, I think I need a sharper pencil for those flowers on your shirt. Very cool, by the way. Next time you see Bunty, please tell her that I’ll make time to draw her whenever she finds time to come out here. Well, we’re trying to get her in and out as soon as possible, so that she can spend her time in the Sheep Shop. By the way, that was a lovely thing you did for her. Eliot! I do believe you’re blushing. Okay, I’m almost done. There! If you just drop by and let your sister know I’m here, I’d appreciate it . . . Next?”
“Hey, Priscilla. No rush, but when you guys are done in here, would you mind telling Bethany that Eliot just radioed me with her message, and I’ll get out there as soon as I can? No, really, take your time. There’s plenty of time left, and I’ve still got a shopful of people to take care of. Does it show? I do love it all. I’m so happy. Eliot is the best and kindest of brothers to make this all possible. Well, back to work– Almost forgot, can I help you find anything or are the three of you just browsing?” Giggling. “Well, browse away. And don’t forget to vote for my calendar photo before you leave. And I still have several Wool Week souvenir mugs left. Well, if I don’t have any wrapped ones left, Jill and Silver will take care of you. Oh, Trudy–“
“I’m so sorry. I know I said I’d hunt you down before the fireworks begin, but the crowd is bigger than we ever expected. You’re probably right. It probably is the new lights out there. Mind if we get together later? I wanted the other three to have some funtime at the Street Fair, so I’m here by myself for a while. Well, I heard Priscilla say they were going down to get their portraits made, so maybe you could interview the three of them when they’re done. Sure. And I’ll try my best to find you later. Toodle pip!”
“You boys have been great fun, but I’ve just got to check on Eydie. Before you go, though, I’d like to thank all you Merry Men for getting our refrigerator issue fixed so quickly. No, it was amazing! We didn’t lose a single thing. In appreciation, would you guys allow us to give you a free dessert tonight? Can you pass the word around to the other boys? And, Vesey, I’ve got something special for you . . .”
“Special? For me? How about Henry? He helped, too.”
“How’s my Grand Champion chicken doing tonight? Oh, you’re so very very cute! Any problems, Benny? Oh, good. I’d like to set these things down here. My arms are exhausted, and I don’t want my 5-Minute Portrait to get ruined. Isn’t it cute? Those girls are so clever. Why don’t you go and get yours done, while I sit here with Flossie? Oh, you’re so funny. How could I get lonely in this crowd? You need a new drink, anyway. Um, no, I don’t think so. I think she’s had enough popcorn for tonight. Haven’t you, little girl?” Cluck.
“Excuse me, Benny, but mind if I ask you a quick question or two? Super! Do you think Flossie is having fun tonight? What was her favorite food? I noticed she was napping earlier. Did the lights bother her, or was she just tired from walking around so much? What? Of course I mean Flossie! Benny? Oh, Benny! I couldn’t hear your answers– Eliot, did you see that? I wonder if Benny is losing his hearing. Well, I only asked him a couple of questions about how Flossie was enjoying the fair. Yes, I said Flossie. That is not weird. You boys don’t have any idea what readers want to see in the Gazette. I know she’s only a chicken, but everybody likes a well-rounded view of an event. Eliot!”
“Hi, Nanea! Mind if I ask you a few questions? Benny didn’t have time to be interviewed, but our readers will really want to know how the Wool Week Street Fair appealed to all who came. Is Flossie having fun? What’s her favorite food so far? Does she think everyone down here is having a good time? George did that? Her very own popcorn? Now, that is newsworthy! What does he call it? Well, that’s no interesting name. We can’t call it chickencorn. I know! How about FlossieCorn? Hmm. George might be on to something here. So, what about you? Have you done any shopping? Oh, that is a shame. Only what you can carry, huh? Well, I bet you and Benny can carry a lot, so I wouldn’t let that stop me. I see that the Portrait line is short, so I’m gonna run. Been trying to get in there all night, but it’s always busy. Later, Nanea! And bye-bye Flossie!”
“Ooh, for Flossie?! Oh, Eydie, Flossie just adores presents! Especially when they’re wrapped like that. If you don’t mind, could we open it later? Flossie is very tired and needs to take a nap . . . Because she told me, that’s how. You can just look at her and know she’s worn out. She never gets cross or whiny when she’s had too much fun, though . . . just sleepy. You sure you don’t mind? That’s really the sweetest thing, Eydie. Thank you, from all of us. Not yet, but Janie and I will be by to take something home for a snack tonight. I hope you have something made with chocolate, because Janie’s all out of her candy bars. That’s sweet of you to offer, but Benny’s sitting on the bench over there, so he’ll watch her while we do a little more shopping. Thanks for the offer, though. Aloha!”
“So, Bethany, do people seem to be enjoying themselves? Looks like you’ve got a real professional set-up here. Where do you buy your art supplies? So, are you saying you wish that Islandshire had an art store? You know, some Gazette reader might read that comment and open a store with you in mind. No kidding! Really! Everyone reads the Gazette. Okay, well, maybe not everyone, but they should . . . Cheese! Is that a good smile? Hey, do you mind if I print the sketch in the paper tomorrow? Who knows, you might get a few commissions from it. Then you’d have enough to pay for advertising in the Gazette! And, from there . . . who knows!”
“Hey, man, are you a sight for sore eyes?! Everyone stops to talk to Flossie, but I don’t speak enough fluent CluckCluck to understand most of what they say. And just look at my sister’s idea of ‘only what you can carry’.”
“I’m on my way to pick up my 5-Minute Portrait, and– I know, but Bunty really wanted me to have it done. We’ll hang it with the ancestral paintings and call it ‘The Upper Classes at Play’, or something silly like that. So, have you checked out the diner, yet? Harold’s got quite a nice little set-up over there, and the music is a big hit. Maybe we should move The Blue Boar down here, into its own permanent location next to the Diner. No, nothing fancy, but it might bring more trade into the Main Street district. Yeah, the lights make a big difference, but I’m thinking of adding a boardwalk, too. And maybe a dock, where Nachito could bring off-island passengers in for events like this. I’ll knock it around for a couple of days and see what some of the other boys think. Sure I can’t get you anything before I go? Some popcorn for the chicken? Okay, then. Just out of curiosity, how are you going to carry all that home? Ha! I tried reasoning with a girl once. I’ve been living in a state of confusion ever since. Later, Benny.”
“So, that’s your favorite ribbon and bow? Would you like to share with our readers a few observations from tonight’s festivities? Oh, anything, really. What’s your most popular combination? And how about that Wool Week Special with the red paper and gold ribbon? It’s a bit too traditional for my tastes, but I’ll bet a lot of the others have chosen that. No? Well, you do have a wide selection. Perhaps it’s hard for people to choose. No, no. I think that’s a good thing. Unless you’re serving Kelly, right?” Giggling. “Speaking of Kelly, I see her over there. Maybe she’d like to be interviewed . . .”
“Have you girls been everywhere already? Oh, my. I’m afraid I haven’t done much but get a Wetzel Pretzel– What? Of course, with extra butter dip.” Giggling. “Me? Well, I’ve been staring in P&E’s window for such a long time, but I’m no closer to deciding what to buy than when I got here. What would you guys recommend? Yum . . . that looks real good . . . but what about that over there? Okay, I’ll think about it and make a decision later! Where? Oh, a drink would be nice. Sure, I’ll come with you. Do you think Sun-Ho can recommend something . . .”
“You want to go where? To the Diner? Through that crowd? Are you crazy? I don’t care if he has a whole orchestra down there. Pizza Boy will have to do without us tonight. Let’s go into The Boutique. They won’t be crowded. That?! That’s the line for Toni’s Boutique?! I knew I should have stayed home and read about it tomorrow in the Gazette.”
“Oh, Joanie! I’ve been watching for you all night! Where’ve you been? Oh, I’m sorry. I hope it wasn’t anything serious. Oh, good. Yeah, it is crowded tonight, but it’s more fun this way, isn’t it? So, what have you got there? That is really gorgeous, my dear. Oh, we have the perfect thing for that. Excuse me one moment, will you?”
“I think I saw her over there, Nanea. Down by Bunty’s Sheep Shop. No bother. Now, Joan, let’s see what we can do with that beautiful gold bag.”
“What did you have in mind? We have a really nice gold silver mylar wrap that gives it an authentic space feel. No mylar? How about one of those blue gift bags with green tissue? No blue and green? Let me see, now . . . Which one? You’d like what?! Oh, bless your heart! Brighton, please excuse me for butting in– Oh, Brighton, I see you chose the ‘Gramma’s gift wrap’ combo! That’s one of my favorites, and brings back lots of fond childhood memories. It’s guaranteed to please.” Giggling. “Jill can explain it all, but first — Jill, sorry for interrupting, but JOAN WANTS THE WOOL WEEK SPECIAL FOR HER PURSE! Really, I didn’t even suggest it! I’ll tell you what, I’ll finish up with Brighton, and YOU can wrap Joanie’s purse. Joan, Jill will take care of that for you. And you’ve made her very happy. Now, Brighton, what color ribbon did you have in mind?”
“Did I miss something here? What’s the Wool Week Special? Oh, that . . . well, I thought some lime green might be nice . . .”